Heyyyyyyyy whats up guys? Sorry to be a new thread *****, but I felt this was better to be posted in a new thread rather than continue in my original thread (https://my350z.com/forum/autocross-road/214275-i-have-an-autox-track-opportunity-my-car-is-stock-should-i-try-or-not.html) which was more along the lines of "Should I AutoX my stock Z" etc. Thanks again for all who have posted and encouraged me to go do it.

So I had my first AutoX yesterday with my stock 06 Z. There were 4 heats with a morning session and afternoon session. I was in heat 3 with three runs. The course was NOT a novice course since they had it double back on itself (you'll see in the video). I had gone "OC" (off course) in my first lap for both morning and afternoon session. Moring session I don't know where I went off course, but afternoon session was very obvious (you'll see in vid).

I had an instructor pretty much for all my laps except my very last one which I scored the highest. The instructor gave me very good pointers and helped me just get oriented with the course as I drove through it. I definetly wasn't as aggressive as I could have been and he told me this. All in all, I got what I wanted: To get a feel for the limits of my Z and push her harder than normal around corners in a safe enviornment.

Now pics:









Vid:





So in my morning heat, I had kept TCS on. I also was in 1st gear during most of the first loop and switched to 2nd in the straight away after the salom. In the afternoon heat I turned off TCS to see how well I would do and that is when I spun out coming around that bend. DOH! Well, it was okay...I got to admit I did have fun even when I felt the back end go and I was gonna spin out. It was a good learning experience. I was hesitant to keep TCS off but then instructor went with me again and I was able to complete it. Then the final run I went alone but I kept TCS on and switched to 2nd gear almost within the first 10 seconds of the lap. I don't have the exact times with me and the club takes a while to post results I heard.

Morning Heat times (roughly)
1. Off-course (not sure what happened and no instructor), TCS ON
2. 54 seconds (with Instructor), TCS ON
3. 53 seconds (with Instructor), TCS ON

Afternoon Heat times
1. Off-course (my lil spin out disoriented me and no instructor), TCS OFF
2. 55 seconds (with Instructor ), TCS OFF
3. 51.6 seconds (no Instructor), TCS ON and early shift to 2nd gear

There were all kinds of cars. I wasn't very quick by the looks of the video but I felt I was going fairly fast. Most people were running between 45 and 49 seconds. Quickest was a civic hatchback that ran 40 seconds. There was a quick older m3 and evo too. I don't know if I will get addicted to this...but I can see why people go to this on a very consitant basis.

 

Welcome to our addiction, err, hobby!

 

That's scary how close the cars are parked in relation to the track.

 

^^ Yeah, I agree...I never really thought much into it until you mentioned it.

 

what if you had better tires do you think you could of done better?

 

Its hard to say...I am sure I would have had a great advantage with the grip. Ultimately it comes down to the driver and their skill with what they have.

 

Congratulations. On course or off course it doesn't matter. You were out there giving it your best instead of playing dangerous games on the street.

You and I will have to get together at Mason Dixon Dragway. Just a quarter mile in a straight line. There is no off course.

 

^Yeah...now if I am only brave enough to practice launching my car....lol.

 

Does the TCS in an 06 not nearly kill the gas to the motor when you leave it on? In my 03 if you left it on that run is not gonna be anywhere close to fast, versus with it turned off.

 

Fun times!

Wow that course is so small...how frustrating !!!

Enjoy!

 

I have never seen a 350Z with street tires break a rear axle. Its possible but not probable.

Besides that's why you have a tow hook.

 

If that was Ripken Stadium, its actually pretty big compared to some of the other courses I've run in the NE.

 

Glad you had fun! Not a big fan of the course design though, maybe they just didn't have much room to work with. I have never been on a course that loops around on itself 3 times.